It may be too early to call but eternal chokers Clermont Auvergne are showing
signs that they can finally break their European hoodoo

For five years, I was convinced that the mighty Clermont Auvergne would win the Heineken Cup. Yet, despite having so many of my favourite players in one team – Mario Ledesma, Julien Bonnaire, Nathan Hines, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Brock James – the early campaigns in the tournament saw a total failure to deliver on the road in Europe. Then the big knockout games were too much for them.

In Dublin in 2010 they tumbled to a quarter-final one point, 29-28, defeat against Leinster. All it needed was for James Brock to step up and smash over the drop goal from bang in front of the posts. Somehow he missed.

Then there was the tackle by Gordon D'Arcy on Wesley Fofana in the dying seconds of a semi-final in 2012 and another loss to Leinster.

Then in 2013 it was the final in Dublin. It was the right bet to back Clermont, and I would still put my money on them, but sometimes the better team in a final doesn't always win, especially when they are facing Toulon and the nerve of Jonny Wilkinson.

And so to last year, when Clermont were swamped in a semi-final by Saracens, I have to admit I gave up on them then. My beloved Jaunards; the Vulcans; I said no more. Sivivatu upped sticks; Brock looked tired; Ledesma was long since gone; Bonnaire getting older; Nathan Hines gone to Sale. Even as I reel off those names, I am reminded that in and around those luminaries were players such as Fofana, Morgan Parra, Aurelie Rougerie, Napaloni Nalaga, Thomas Domingo, Jamie Cudmore and Damien Chouly.

How they could not win with that lot I am have no idea. But then rugby is not about names or reputations on paper. But then, for Clermont, too often the weight of expectation has been a burden. This is a team that took 11 attempts to win the top 14 final. Europe, though, was still proving too much of a mountain to climb and I was running out of hope and optimism.

But, all of a sudden I believe again. I am evangelical about their chances. So what have I seen that has excited me so much? One forward and one back. In the pack it is Fritz Lee, a Samoan-born New Zealand sevens player who on the back of a short trial at the club so impressed senior management he bagged a three-year deal. In the backs it is Camille Lopez, who is on his third top 14 club by the age of 25, was recently capped by France at fly-half, and is an absolute bundle of energy and attacking intent in the 10 jersey.

These are signings that were not trumpeted and might have flown under the radar were it not for their impact. Fritz Lee is all about dynamism and ball-playing ability. But what has also impressed is the desire he has to lead the line, defensively, to never accept defeat or sneak off for the quick rest at the side of a ruck when away from home. The way he picked up his deal and how he has settled says a lot about his mental strength – from the wandering hobo, looking for a port in a storm, to the master of all he surveys in one of Europe’s richest clubs. Lee is not a big man; he is not a Louis Picamoles, a Duane Vermeulen. Rather he is small, compact, and hard as nails.

When Clermont became the first French team to win at Thomond Park in the European Cup, Fritz Lee gave pound-for-pound one of the finest performances ever seen at that ground in a No8 jersey. That is how good it was. He was omnipresent – from nailing Simon Zebo in the wide flanks to smashing Tommy O'Donnell off the edges of rucks. No upper body grappling, no hunt for a choke tackle, just total commitment to down his man at thigh to knee height and get up and compete. Leg drive, desire, technique. Sheer quality. His angles of running and his hands are the reminder of his previous existence as a sevens player. Fast, fleet of foot, and dexterous hands.

The back row still has the master line-out man in Julien Bonnaire and Damien Chouly can grapple and do the hard yards, but they now have a third tough ball player that can be launched off Clermont’s massive front five.

At fly-half, they have also added an extra dimension in Lopez. He had some time in the French jersey in 2013 – a couple of caps on Saint Andre's merry go round – while his early career saw him club hopping. But his arrival at Clermont has him picked now as the Vulcans’ first choice 10 and France's starting fly-half. His first real touch in the autumn internationals was a pinpoint cross kick in the opening seconds against Fiji to Teddy Thomas for a try. Whatever the colour of the shirt, the blue of France or the yellow of Clermont, he looks like he has the magic ingredient every player searches for; time on the ball.

That elusive commodity at the highest level that allows you to see things unfold in front of you and you stay one step ahead of the game. He is an old school fly-half – not a monster tackler, he doesn't want to hit ruck after ruck. He stands flat and delivers to runners and gets his backs involved. He gets multiple touches in different phases of play and offers himself as the focal point, the main link between forwards and backs, between rucks and space.

Within 15 minutes of his run in the Fiji game I scribbled down "born for this" in reference to his attitude and skill. He is an attacking centre, or lightning fast-winger’s, dream. He delivers the ball into space early having sucked in and fixed the defender. He is the dictionary definition of what you want a fly half to do. He is not perfect; his goal-kicking was scratchy at time against Munster and he is playing behind a massive pack which can cover up gaps in his decision-making. But he understands the benefit of keeping a scoreboard ticking over and made up for his errors off the kicking tee by smashing over a drop goal. Cup rugby smarts that have deserted them at key times down the years.

On paper this time round Clermont are not the ones you would back to lift the trophy, and it is too early to say whether they weight of expectation will get to them once again. There are so many other quality teams in this tournament who have managed to win and know what it takes. Also, despite their historic win in Munster, Clermont still have to get out of one of the toughest groups Europe has seen. But for me, they have already done enough and no matter how hard I try to fight it, I have once again fallen for this band of French cup rugby chokers.